Chaos and Order - A Multiverse Fanfic

C59: Buying the First Magical Creature

They followed the saleswoman down a cellar as another man took over her position.

Round and round, they kept going down, stepping over moldy stairs. A thick whiff of rusted iron hit Kai's nose as the witch took out a large key, puffing for air meanwhile. The metal creaked quizzically when she opened the door.

The noise of a million insects stridulating deafened Kai's ears.

The sound was so harsh, and yet enchanting, that Kai felt himself losing his mind in search of pleasant dreams.

But when his eyes fell on Petyr, this sensation turned into horror. The character, who hadn't been affected by anything so far, was blurring in and out of existence like a specter. If he wasn't standing behind the witch, she would have seen right through him.

"These rascals!" the witch cursed, taking out her wand. "Stop!"

A tap from her wand on one of the wooden crates followed her shout.

Kai felt the fluctuation of Mana and the buzz stopped. Petyr looked pale as if someone had taken a bucketful of blood out of him. He looked at Kai, and Kai understood one more unfortunate incident like this, and the Character would return to the Book.

"Pardon, young men," the witch said apologetically. "I need to store many insects for the Potion-masters."

"I... I understand perfectly well, my lady," Petyr managed to say, though his one hand was still blurry like mist trying to become water. "Insects. Wonderful creatures for the strangest of the Potions. I thank you from all the Potioneering Community."

"Oh..." the saleswoman hid a giggle. "Come. Here, let me light it up. Lumos!"

The witch chanted and flicked her wand.

Kai gawked like a boy as the tip of the wand lit up like a white bulb. The dim surrounding presented itself to them, then. Big, heavy wooden crates were lined up against the walls. The floor was full of wet straws and the smell was just short of retching.

"Serpents..." the saleswoman trailed off as if she would talk about anything but serpents. "Well, they are not the most sought-after creatures. And that's the nicest thing to say about them, with all the dark tales that revolve around them. I have only one magical serpent and a few ordinary serpents for milking."

Kai took the lead, then. "Show us the magical one."

The witch gave the nastiest look to Kai. Even Kai's Charisma seemed lacking to counter her aversion to serpents, and to those who talked about them with odd enthusiasm and eagerness.

She looked away from Kai, staring at Petyr. Her loathing calmed down, seeing Petyr frowning at the crates lying in front of them. "Magical one?" she asked, confirming Petyr's will at this.

Petyr nodded. "If it's possible, my lady," he said. "Non-magical serpents won't last the process."

"Oh, yes," the witch agreed, taking out a smaller key. "I remember now. Very well."

What the actual fuck?! Kai cursed, gritting his teeth. This bastard is spitting nonsense one after another, and the slut thinks he is a master of potions or something. Tch!

Under the incredulous gaze of Kai, the witch opened the smallest rectangular crate.

A sudden hiss resounded, echoing off the walls of the densely stuffed cellar. Kai felt complete hearing the hiss. The hunger within him was on the verge of exploding. Even the sheer Will didn't seem enough to hold him back.

A hand gripped Kai's wrist.

Kai jumped out of his trance-like state and saw Petyr looking at him. The character let go of his hand, and Kai licked his lips, approaching the crater silently, slithering with every next step.