Depression Plutus (Curse #4)

CHAPTER 20 Stranger

OTTILIE VIRSES POV 
 
 
Nakakabadtrip talaga si Plutus, ano kayang kababalaghan ang pinagsasabi ng prinsipe na 'yon sa matanda. Mabuti na nga lang at naka-alis na 'yon, payapa ko ng magagawa ang trabaho ko. Pagtapos ko ngang mananghalian ay bumalik na ulit ako sa ginagawa ko. 
 
Makalipas lang ang isang oras, muli akong nagambala sa ginagawa ko nang marinig ang pagtunog ng doorbell. Nagtataka man, lumabas ako sa workshop at saka sinilip kung sino ito. Nangunot ang noo ko ng makita ang isang matangkad na binata. 
 
He was dressed in a leather jacket over a black shirt, paired with worn maong jeans and sturdy white shoes. His cap was pulled low over his face, making it difficult to make out any of his features.
 
"Sino po sila?" Tanong ko sa binata. 
 
The man remained silent for a moment before slowly removing his cap, revealing his face. My breath caught in my throat, and I stood frozen for a second. His hair was as white as snow, and his lips were the deepest red, like freshly picked apples. There was no other way to describe his face. 
 
It was angelic, almost otherworldly.
 
But it wasn’t just his appearance that struck me. It was the aura that surrounded him. I had never sensed anything like it before. It was so pure, its energy radiating with an intensity that gave me goosebumps. And then there were his eyes. Red as blood, sharp and creepy, like they could see right through me.
 
When he finally spoke, his voice sent a tremble through me. It was calm yet so deep, almost raspy but not quite. It had a fullness to it, baritone and resonant. 
 
"I’m here to buy a healing potion."
 
Doon lang ako natauhan ng marealize kung ano ang pakay nito. Seriously, what's the deal with this guy? 
 
"A healing potion?" I repeated, trying to gather my thoughts. "What kind of healing potion do you need?"
 
"A potion for a weak heart," he said, his eyes never leaving mine.
 
I understood immediately so I opened the gate and motioned for him to come in. As we walked toward my workshop, I couldn’t help but steal glances at him. His presence was disturbing, yet somehow fascinating. I hadn’t felt this way about a stranger in… well, ever.
 
Once inside, I showed him to a seat at the work table. "You can sit here while I prepare it," I said, still feeling slightly off balance in his presence.
 
I watched him sit down, his movements were smooth yet calculated. As I gathered my ingredients, I heard him speak again. I turned to see him holding out a small, rounded glass bottle filled with a red liquid.
 
"I want you to include this in the potion," he said, his voice as steady as before.
 
I frowned slightly, taking the bottle from him. "What’s inside?"
 
He remained silent for a bit too long, and then, his tone shifting as he said, "Don’t ask questions. Just do it."
 
A shiver ran down my spine at the sudden change in his attitude, but I wasn’t in a position to argue. I nodded, placing the bottle on the table alongside my ingredients.
 
"Alright, magsisimula na po ako," I said, my voice quieter than before. "Mabilis lang 'to." 
 
As I worked, I could feel his eyes on me, watching every movement I made, as if he were studying me. The weight of his gaze was unsettling, but I focused on my task, following what's written in the book.
 
Ingredients:
Rosemary Essence (5 drops) 
Dragon's Blood Resin (1 pinch)
Crushed Hawthorn Berries (2 tablespoons) 
Phoenix Feather Ash (1/4 teaspoon)
Crystallized Honey (1 tablespoon)
Moonwater (1 cup)
Golden Apple Slice (1 small piece)
Lavender Sprig (for aroma)
 
I carefully poured a cup of moonwater into the beaker and let the fire boil it. The soft glow of the liquid shimmered as I stirred, activating its magic. Next, I added five drops of rosemary essence, the scent filling the room with warmth and calm.
 
Then, I took a small pinch of Dragon's Blood Resin and sprinkled it into the mixture. The potion hissed, darkening briefly before returning to its soft glow. After that, I whispered the chant in a low voice. 
 
"Per sanguinem draconum, vires restituantur,
Ad cor infirmum, sana et perdura."
 
I then added two tablespoons of crushed hawthorn berries, watching as the potion turned a pale lavender. The next ingredient, a quarter teaspoon of Phoenix feather ash, caused the potion to glow brighter, signaling its rejuvenating power.
 
With a steady hand, I stirred in a tablespoon of crystallized honey, sweetening the elixir. A thin slice of golden apple went in next, simmering gently for a few moments. As I waited for it to boil, I was about to ask him if he wanted anything specific in the potion’s composition when he spoke.
 
"Strange times we live in, don’t you think?" His voice broke in. "Especially with the murders happening lately."
 
Doon ako napahinto sa ginagawa ko, mukhang kalat na sa lugar na ito ang patayan na nangyayari sa school. 
 
"Oo nga eh," I replied carefully, not looking in his direction. "It’s… unsettling. I’ve heard rumors."
 
The man shifted slightly in his chair, his red eyes flickering with something dark but not threatening. "Rumors don’t always paint the full picture. Sometimes, what’s left out is more important than what’s told."
 
I paused, glancing at him. "Anong ibig mong sabihin?"
 
He leaned back, crossing his arms casually, but his eyes never left mine. "These murders, they’re not random. There’s a pattern, a link between them."
 
"A link?" I repeated, trying to sound casual while my thoughts spun. He was saying something I had been thinking about, but what did he know?
 
He nodded slowly. "The victims... they all carried traces of a certain kind of magic. Old, forgotten magic." His voice dropped a little lower, almost conspiratorial. "The kind that’s not easily detected."
 
I swallowed hard, my mind immediately jumping to the magical aura I had sensed on the two victims. But how could he know that?
 
Habang napapaisip ako sa sinabi nito, kinuha ko ang ibinigay nitong babasaging bote na may lamang pulang likido. Noong una nag-alinlangan ako kung ihahalo ko ba ito, pero mukhang maalam din ito sa potions kaya ipinagsawalang bahala ko na lang ito. 
 
I put a few drops of it into the beaker. The potion swirled, deepening its color as a faint crimson tint spread through the golden hue.
 
"Well," I began, gathering my nerve. "I’ve heard the legend about the Red Room. Some people think it's connected to the murders." I glanced up at him, trying to gauge his reaction. "They say it’s where souls are lost, where dark deals are made. Doesn’t that seem like… part of the legend?"
 

To be continued...