The Peculiar Alchemist

20 || Toby Dies

 This infamous Agnes that Vincent had heard so much about really piqued his interest. When Sammy told him about her, he initially didn't think she'd be anyone important.

There were many people who claimed to be seers or even scryers, but those claims were rarely proven to be true. They do exist, and there is some legitimacy in that form of magic, but it is widely known to be a scam and nothing more. Vincent thought that Agnes was a really good scammer.

But for an Abbott to go to her asking for help had to mean something.

This woman made Vincent curious enough to cancel all his plans for the day and just perform one of the more complex – and risky – rituals that he rarely finds a use for. The middle of his spacious room was deliberately left empty in the middle so a ritual can be drawn, and he did not spend much time finishing the one he had intended to perform looking at it with a pleased look once he was done.

When the candles were placed, there was an extra step he had to take as he held a meat pie in his hand. A disgusted whimper left him due to the discomfort he felt every time he had to eat it, but he forced himself to do it trying his best not to think too much of the meat source.

Sometimes certain things were necessary for a ritual to work.

With a gulp and a feeling of nausea at the taste, he quickly cut his hand and let a few droplets of blood fall on the floor. The location of Agnes' cottage kept repeating in his head, and he closed his eyes uttering the incantations before chills ran through his body. Chills that were stronger than anything he had experienced before, and he found himself separated from his own living body.

Back in his room, the candles went out, and his body slumped on the floor devoid of any soul. Vincent didn't have much time before he is pulled back into his body – it was not his time to leave this world yet – and he looked around to see that his soul was transported near a cottage in the middle of nowhere, or so it seemed.

The door opened with a loud bang and screams were heard.

"Out! Get out!" Vincent could hear that it was a woman who was screaming, but the one who walked out was a tall man who had a passive face. He didn't have to wait long to see his target herself popping out of the door holding a bottle of potion in her hand. "I told you not to touch my potions. Why is that the first thing you do when you come back?"

A sigh came out of the man. "I didn't touch it."

"Then why is it not working?" She seethed and Vincent saw that she didn't have a mark on her neck. This woman was definitely not a necromancer, otherwise she would have seen him. The man she was yelling at was not perturbed at all with her aggression as he shrugged his shoulders and spoke calmly.

"Maybe you just failed?"

Those words weren't wise, and Vincent watched in bewilderment as the old lady threw the contents of the bottle in his face. The door quickly shut after that, and the man recoiled a little bit at the sting before he grumbled still retaining his calm, he was a bit too calm.

"Great. My face is melting now." The words were said wryly with great nonchalance, and Vincent wondered just how someone could get so used to this. Despite the acidic-like effects of the liquid, the guy merely wiped it away with his sleeve before finally showing signs of displeasure when he looked down at it. "Cool. Now my shirt is melting, too."

Kicking an invisible stone on the ground, the guy turned around and looked straight at Vincent who took a step back in shock. Nobody should be able to see him, not unless they were necromancers, but the guy was looking at him and a smile appeared on his face. Vincent felt uncomfortable by it, and he didn't intend to be seen.