Vivian's expression lit up with understanding. "Ah, so you're from the Ministry of Magic."
"Yeah," Linnea nodded. "I'm an Auror. I saw Mr. Wilson's equipment before, and I was really interested in the protective gear. But all I see here are decorations..." She trailed off, feeling overwhelmed by the dazzling array of enchanted items.
"You're not wrong," Vivian reassured her. "We are a Magical equipment store, but as an alchemy workshop, we don't just sell combat gear. We also have an excellent range of civilian products, and those Magical items you're looking for? They're part of a specialty collection." She gestured to the cabinets on Linnea's left. "Here, for example, we have communication and defense amulets. These aren't just useful, they come in different styles! We've got adorable designs for kids, simple and sleek ones for professionals, and elegant, high-end versions for those who like a bit of luxury."
Vivian's eyes gleamed as she continued her pitch. "And check this out, our exclusive couple's messaging Charm! This set of phoenix pendants is one of our flagship products. Not only is the craftsmanship top-tier, but the communication magic is incredibly powerful! Perfect for you and your partner. Normally, they go for 32 Galleons, but since you're with the Ministry, you get a special discount, only 26 Galleons for the set!"
"Uh… I'm single," Linnea said awkwardly, still trying to process how Vivian had managed to cram so much information into a single breath. Then something struck her. "Wait a minute." She narrowed her eyes. "A standard messenger Charm is 12 Galleons a pair, right? That's 24 Galleons total. Why is it more expensive when it's packaged as a couple's set?"
Vivian's smile never faltered. "Because it's a luxury edition with premium enchantments, of course! And just look at how stunning they are." She gestured to the phoenix pendants, and despite her skepticism, Linnea had to admit, they were beautiful.
"Anyway, if that's not your style, you should check out this protective brooch!" Vivian reached for another piece, a delicate bird-and-snake design. "It's specially crafted for ladies, both stylish and practical. You can get one for just 12 Galleons and 15 Sickles. But if you wait too long, you might miss out!"
Before she knew it, Linnea had somehow ended up with two more enchanted accessories, a defensive brooch and a pendant, on top of the Charms. "Wait!" She shook her head, snapping out of it. "I came here for protective gloves and humanoid targets! Where are they?" If she listened to Vivian any longer, she might end up walking out with half the store.
"Relax, relax!" Vivian grinned, waving a hand dismissively. "Your Magical gear is just in the next section. Come on, I'll show you." With that, she turned and led Linnea toward the next display area.
"Look, we have four types of humanoid targets," Vivian explained, leading Linnea to the display. "They're categorized by power capacity, one for children, one for teenagers, a home-use version for adults, and a professional-grade model. Which one are you looking for?"
Linnea glanced at the targets and nodded. "I'll take the home-use version for adults. My spells don't usually exceed 200 points, so this one should be perfect."
"Great choice!" Vivian beamed. "Now, since you've got plenty of budget left after choosing a target dummy, why not take a look at these magic phonographs? The music is absolutely enchanting, and we've just launched a seasonal collection of records, each set comes with ten songs inspired by the four seasons. Plus, we've got a special promotion: buy three, get one free!"
Linnea hesitated, her gaze drifting toward the phonograph next to her. The moment she saw it, she froze.
On top of the spinning vinyl record, tiny magical figures in winter coats were happily ice skating, gliding effortlessly to the rhythm of the music. That had to be the winter edition of the seasonal set Vivian had mentioned. "Huh?" Her brows furrowed as something suddenly felt off. She leaned in for a closer look, then turned to Vivian with a sharp glance. "Wait, why does this phonograph look so familiar?" She stared at it again, recognition creeping in. "This... this has to be a modified Muggle item, right?"
The realization struck her almost instantly. Growing up in an orphanage after being abandoned by her parents, Linnea had spent years surrounded by Muggle objects. Even now, she occasionally mingled in Muggle communities. That familiarity made it easy for her to notice the telltale signs of repurposed Muggle technology in magical items.
"Don't worry, this is a Ministry-certified alchemy product," Vivian reassured her with a bright smile. "It just happens to look a bit like a Muggle device. See? Our company's emblem is right here, nothing shady about it!" She tapped the side of the phonograph confidently, clearly hoping to brush off Linnea's concerns.
Linnea hesitated, narrowing her eyes. She knew it was illegal to enchant Muggle objects without proper authorization, but considering that Wilson's Arcane Alchemica was a legitimate alchemy firm, it was unlikely they'd risk breaking the law. 'Maybe they just took inspiration from Muggle designs,' she reasoned.
Still, something about the whole experience left her feeling slightly dazed. And half an hour later, when she finally stepped out of Alex's shop, a bewildered expression crossed her face as she glanced down at the large box in her hands. "...I really thought I was just coming in to buy equipment," she muttered, still trying to process what had just happened.
She had originally intended to purchase a single humanoid target and a pair of protective gloves. But now? Now, she was walking out with two extra accessories, a magical phonograph, four seasonal records, a decorative magic lamp, and a mechanical clock enchanted with self-adjusting time zones. It was like she had fallen into some kind of elaborate sales trap. And it wasn't just the products that were strange, the entire shop was.
The salesperson? A young woman who could talk circles around anyone and charm a Galleon out of even the stingiest wizard. The assistant? A house-elf dressed far too elegantly for someone in his position. And to top it all off, the one running the cash register was a dog.
A Husky, to be precise. A dog that not only handled transactions effortlessly but did so with such ease that Linnea barely questioned it. That, in itself, was the strangest part of all. With her mind still spinning, she left Diagon Alley, clutching her oversized box of impulse purchases.
What Linnea had just experienced was happening again and again inside Wilson's Arcane Alchemica . The newly redesigned shop was completely different from before. There was now a steady stream of customers, and most visitors didn't leave empty-handed. Even if they couldn't afford the high-end alchemy equipment, they'd at least walk away with something, be it an enchanted lamp, a decorative brooch, or a music box.