Old Neil stopped. He turned to Selina with a surprised look.
He didn't expect the lady starred at that strange fireworks show is illiterate in the field of mysticism.
So he replied with honest. "I do."
Selina's her eyes lit in joy internally, her face was shown slightly interested.
She said calmly. "Can you... teach me about these languages?"
As of this moment, Selina is considered not apart of the officials. Adding to Old Neil overhearing the captain and other official's conversation about Selina.
He took this opportunity to say. "Ms. Roy, right now you're seen as a wild beyonder.
"Mentoring you in mysticism could even risk me in comitting an accessory of the crime if ever you chose to make one."
Selina stayed silent as she quietly listened.
Old Neil pressed. "Unless, you become an official, I'm against teaching you mysticism.
"After all, it's also a gate that can led anyone lose themselves."
A gate leading to lose themselves...? Lose control? Selina kept her thoughts in check.
Seeing that Old Neil was now waiting for her response, she first deliberated her words.
Mr. Old Neil must've caught glimpse of my case... That's natural, some things are meant to share to peers surrounding a case.
However, now it looks like they're really probing me to join...
Old Neil felt Selina slowly going deeper into her thoughts.
With calm, he added with a smile. "Consider it one of the perks in becoming an official."
He gave a light courtesy of brief bow to Selina before passing her and start heading to the armory.
After Old Neil was gone, only now did Selina snapped out of her daze.
Oh... Mr. Old Neil left.
Was I thinking about it too much? Selina lightly asked herself before shaking it off and began making her way upstairs.
Dim and elegant wall lamps casts a pallid glow that reveals the either wet or dry solid cobblestone floor.
Along the way, Selina still kept on weighting the offer of becoming an official.
On the other hand... Becoming one is quite restrictive. I won't be able to frequent Mr. Lawson's herbal shop as then I would first have to make an attendance.
Additionally, being monitored everyday could risk my secrets to be revealed...
Her gaze drifted onto the passing walls and gas lamps, lost in thought.
Safety... Mysticism lecture. Resources. Allies...
Selina gave a soft faint laugh and said to herself. Clearly, one outweighs more than the other...
...
Finally stamping the documents on her desk. Pertaining on the construction of the building's main entrance.
Rozanne was just about to consult Mrs. Orianna for their funds when she saw a braided-bun silver haired lady walking toward the reception.
"Oh, Hello again Ms. Roy. How did... I mean, how was your visit to Captain's office?" Rozanne asked out of curiosity.
Selina, her eyes quickly grew luster, revealed a genial gleam. "If I have to say, your workload might lessen in the near future."
Rozanne was slow, but eventually she caught what Selina meant. "Mr. Dunn hired you?"
Selina wasn't too quick to answer either as she hadn't yet decided with the offer, instead she gave crumbs of hint for the receptionist to piece by showing a soft expression.
"Really? Oh it would really reduce the workaround in this building! The civilian staffs took care of mostly paper work regarding trivial matters. So in addition for you..." Rozanne scanned Selina from head to toe.
Uhm... Selina subconsciously straightened her posture, hands tucked together holding her wide-brim sunhat.
Rozanne addressed but at the same time commented. "Judging by how you exude an air of well-mannered and educated lady, I'd say you're perfect for a position of receptionist!"
But aren't you already the receptionist? Selina awkwardly smiled at the sudden talkativeness of the brown-haired girl.
Throughout this moment, her eyes couldn't but cast down.
Tingen City Broad Paper... Selina silently read the newspaper laid over the counter.
"But I'm already one... Well I'm sure you're suited for either that or a concierge." Rozanne continued.
Selina returned her attention and said to herself wearily. A reminisce from my past profession...
After a friendly bit of chatter with the receptionist. Rozanne quickly bade farewell as her task was left hanging when she and Selina had conversed.
It wasn't a trouble for Selina as her day was entirely free, not regarding the mentorship which she can attend at any time.
A concierge... Question is, won't the guests feel awkward with me around? Selina gave a harmless comment to herself before slowly donning her sunhat.
After awhile of waiting beside the street, a carriage halted toward her and Selina quickly boarded its wooden interior.
As buildings passed by. A thought suddenly sprang up in her mind and Selina snapped out of her vacant eyes.
I forgot to tell my believer when to bring the documents!
This realization was then followed with an additional issue. And... How can he deliver the knowledge to me safely and efficiently?
This left Selina felt guilty for troubling the believer.
God's are able to make things easier... Not make them harder! Selina quietly gave herself a reminder.
Sigh... I'll think of a way to bridge that gap. For now I still have mentorship from Mr. Lawson.
Just as the carriage drove pass the boundary of Zouteland Street.
Selina suddenly overheard a merchant of a simple hawker rumble about a certain feline roaming in the city.
"I swear I left a fish over the counter at my apartment!" The woman said with a raised, complaining voice.
"Then when I went to comfort my crying baby and returned. I saw a black cat who swiftly stole two of the fish!"
Black cat...? Selina quietly sketched an image of a certain companion of hers in her mind, dating back from Milo.
Then she racalled how this feline have grown a few weight. Its hair became fluffier, and its shape rounder.
Don't tell me...
"Don't tell me it had green eyes?" Another woman beside her added.
"How did you know?" The complainer tacitly confessed.
At this moment, Selina already knew who they were talking to.
Although she's not entirely certain, deep in her subconsciousness, she can deduce that it was the certain feline she knew.
Selina quietly turned her head away from the window, keeping herself from being noticed.
She feigned ignorance throughout the trip.
...
The door chimed and entered from it was the braided-bun silver haired Selina.
Before she opened the entrance, she had already took her sun hat off then briskly walked toward the counter.
She saw Darkwill currently tending a customer. His hand rose to his glabella, tapping it thrice with his index finger.
Then he rubbed it immediately afterwards.
Having failed to produce any results from this seemingly mundane action, though prominent enough to be noticed.
Selina's expression was casted, but nevertheless still made a pleasant luster.
When she arrived at the counter, she saw that the man beside her wasn't the same customer she had met.
Another customer... I'm happy for Mr. Lawson... Selina silently commented on the increasing attention of the shop.
"Thank you Mr. Darkwade." The man gave a pleased smile before it quickly grew weary.
"Let me rehearse first, you're saying is that... That I should administer this through the back door?"
Upon hearing this, Selina's thoughts went to a momentary pause.
What?
Darkwill maintained an indifference as he calmly replied. "Yes, that's what I prescribed you."
Selina slowly casted her gaze toward this brazen man, toying with his customers.
The man grew even weaker as his eyes betray his forced reply. "A-Alright... T-Thank you again."
Seeing this all unfolds. Selina wanted to question Darkwill immediately at this moment.
However, she then noticed the guise from Darkwill's expression.
His arms couldn't stop twitching. His eyes was too relaxed, seemingly trying to contain that peculiar excitement.
Later, he smiled. "You'd believe that?"
The man was now halfway from turning when he heard Darkwill.
"Even curly-haired baboons would know to take a medicine through their mouth!"
... Selina could only led her eyelids droop from disappointment.
When the man realized this, his face became furious, he wanted to demand a clear exchange when he noticed a lady beside him.
She wore a loose frilled dress, akin to a Loenese style but added with custom details.
Over her shoulders drapped a half coat. Her eyes sparkled a sapphire ocean and her white hair tied to a braided-bun.
Seeing Selina stood quietly without intervening. The man quickly abandoned his idea.
"Ah Good morning miss." He greeted politely.
"Good morning as well." Selina returned with a faint smile.
Her demeanor quickly left an image within the man.
Suddenly, he stood upright and introduced himself. "My-My name is Claude Woodland. Uh... Might I know your name?"
Selina was slightly taken aback. With a genial face she replied. "It's-"
"Alright you're done here correct? Off you go." Darkwill interrupted, his voice tinged with irritation.
"Tsk." The man took a quick, obviously displeased glance.
However, with acquiescence, he still started walking toward the door. Exiting afterwards.
Selina turned to Darkwill, her brow raised so as to show puzzlement.
"Why? Couldn't have anyone dallying in my store." Darkwill simply said in dismissal.
What? Why would you think that...? If a person were to ask your name, shouldn't you give yours as well? It's basic courtesy after all! Selina was taken aback by how this sarcastic mentor perceived the interaction
However, she didn't consider blurting her thoughts out as it would be a waste of words. Instead, she followed Darkwill back to the usual spot, where the alchemy station was placed.
...
After a few hours. Darkwill laid himself on the right counter, his arm rested on its wooden surface.
He watched as Selina diligently wrapped the mixture of Sunville brown powder, Court Carnation's stem, and Vanilla residue in a thin cloth.
She then submerged it into a solution of Everveil Orchid's extract and 20ml of a tincture using a Dewfern's propagule. Mixed to form a gelatinous surface and green, pale yellow appearance.
Both ingredients were native in the warm region of Feynapotter Kingdom.
The cloth was slowly consumed by the liquid substance. Selina was focused not to let the cloth to fall.
She saw a gaseous-like liquid flowing out of the bundle and converging with the surrounding substance.
When she deduced that it was the right moment to withdraw the cloth holding another ingredients. Selina slowly took it out and inspect how the medicine would react.
Suddenly, the liquid exudes a refreshing scent, akin to a cherry blossom in spring. However, the medicine was still in a stale state, the surface was still the gelatinous mixture from before.
Seeing this, Darkwill quietly tapped his glabella thrice with his rested arms.
He nodded afterwards and said to Selina. "The medicine had no implications, you can say you succeeded first try."
This puzzled Selina as she turned for the mentor, commending her efforts. "There are no reactions, how can you tell if the medicine will work fine?"
"Intuition." Darkwill said simply.
In his mind, he silently commented. Your well-being says it all if the medicine works...
His reply doesn't convinced Selina at a slightest. This gentleman clearly hides more than what's on the surface.
However, she was in no position to probe. In doing so would risk the mentorship to be discontinued at a moment's notice.
Darkwill, approached and took the liquid medicine, replacing its containment with a small bottle.
Bottle clearly couldn't hold all of its contents, so Darkwill only filled it with a portion from the glass container.
"Well... Here you go... A simple medicine for treating mild illnesses." Darkwill handed the small bottle to Selina, a token of her effort.
He then listed. "Remember, it can only cure cold, fever, diarrhea and other basic sickness. I prescribe you to drink it with a spoonful three times a day if you experience any of these diseases."
Wait... So you can prescribe a conventional medicine! Why make your customers drink a boiled chicken's foot? Selina was dumbfounded of Darkwill's strange antics.
Seeing the sun was already at an angle from the sky. Darkwill fixed himself and said. "That will be all for today."
Just as he was about to leave and Selina following him.
The door suddenly chimed once more.
Apart from Selina, it seems a new customer had noticed the shop.
When Darkwill and Selina returned to the main counter, they saw a youngster, about 4 feet tall wearing a cap.
He wore a stitched coat and a worker's small pants, both were poorly maintained.
Holding his satchel, the boy looked at the two and said. "D-Do you have any medicine for a severe coughing?"